Southern Region Water Board

Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) was established by the Waterworks Act of 1995 to supply water for domestic, public and business purposes to all districts in the Southern Region except Blantyre City and its periph-ery. Currently, SRWB has twenty five (25) supply centres and fifty eight thousand (58,000) customers, representing seventy five percent (75 %) coverage.

The Mandate of SRWB is to maintain and extend waterworks for supplying water for domestic, public and business purposes, for the extinction of destructive fires, cleansing streets, lanes, gutters, sewers and for all other purposes to which water and water works are supplied or are applicable.

In order to efficiently execute its Mandate, Southern Region Water Board undertook several reforms in four the-matic areas to turn around the operations of the Board to achieve financial sustainability and improve service delivery.

The reforms under Southern Region Water Board are part of the Malawi Public Sector Reforms Programme that was launched by His Excellency President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika in February 2015 as one of the coun-try’s Flagship Programmes. Southern Region Water Board undertook the following reforms: Climate Smart Energy Solutions, Implementation of On-Spot billing, fast tracking the Implementation of Pre-paid Meters and Reduction of Non-Revenue Water.

1. Climate Smart Energy Solutions
   The Climate Smart Energy Solutions Project to supply power to the Board’s water scheme was successfully executed by SAWA Group of Companies in Chikwawa at a cost of fifty nine million, seventy two thousand, two hundred and forty two kwacha and thirty six tambala (MK59, 072,242.36) resulting in savings in electricity bills for the board which translates to annual savings of seven million two hundred thousand kwacha (MK7, 200,000). Through the reform, the board is also able to achieve maximum production of twenty five thousand, three hundred and sixty four (25,364) cubic meters of water which translates to additional annual revenue of one hun-dred and twenty six million, one hundred thousand kwacha (MK126, 100,000).
   The reform has resulted in consistent supply of water to the residents of Chikwawa Boma
2. Pre-Paid Meters
   A total of two hundred and forty four thousand, one hundred and twenty eight (244,128) pre-paid meters have been installed at St Mary’s, Kalimbuka with another ninety five (95) pre-paid meters at Old Naisi. An additional five thousand (5,000) pre-paid meters are being procured to support the reform.
   The reform has led to improved customer service; reduction in dispute of water bills; improved cash flow; reduced debt collection cost and an improved corporate image for Southern Region Water Board.
3. On-Spot Billing
   The implementation of On-Spot billing was successfully rolled out in July, 2016. Currently, this reform is being incorporated into the pre-paid meters reform.
4. Reduction Of Non Revenue Water
   On the reduction of Non-Revenue Water (NRW), the reform was introduced to increase sales and reduce the amount of water lost before it reaches the customer with the aim of making SRWB financially viable.
   The goal of SRWB is to reduce NRW from about 25% to about 18%.

Looking at the reforms undertaken and progress registered so far, Southern Region Water Board has done a commendable job in undertaking its reforms aimed at improving service delivery

Feedback: opcreforms@gmail.com